Planting-machine.



PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907.

No. 867,451. T. UM'RATH.

.PLANTING MACHINE.

AYPLIOATION IILBD 0013.26. 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 867,451. PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907. f

T. UMRATH. PLANTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.26, 1906.

'] SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED OCT. l, 1907.

T. UMRATH.

PLANTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.26, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

u I u z I 1 I u No. 867,451. IPATENTED OUT. 1, 1907.

T. UMRATH. PLANTING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED 001226, 1906.

7 SHEETS-SHEET-4.

PATENTED 001. 1, 1907. T. UMRATH.

PLANTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00126, 1906.

'7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907. T. UMRATH.

\ PLANTING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILBD 001226. 1906.

' 7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

! lllll N No. 867,451.

PATENTED OCT. 1, 1907. T. UMRATH. PLANTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED001328, 1908.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 'I.

UNITED STATES THEODORUMRATH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PLANTING-MACHINE Specification, of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1907.

lipplicationfiled October 26, 1906. Serial No. 340,682.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, Trmonon UMRATH, a citizen of Germany; residing atChicago, in the county of (00k and Slate of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Planting-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in machines for planting grain,corn, beans, etc., and particularly to that type of planting machinewhich is known as a seed drill. v

The object of the present invention is the general improvement ofmachines of this class and, at the same time, the cheapening of theconstruction of the same. This and such other objects as may hereinafterappear are accomplished in the machine shown in the drawings anddescribed herein.

In these drawings-Figure 1 shows, in vertical section, a machineconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalross-sectional view of the seed receptacle. Fig. 3 is a broken view,showing in longitudinal, vertical section the seed receptacle, thesection being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the directionindicated by the arrows. Fig. 3 is a broken, elevational side view ofone end ofthe seed receptacle. Fig. 4 is a broken, plan view of thecover of the seed receptacle. Fig. 5 is a detail of a portion of thebottom of the seed receptacle. Fig. 6 is an elevational side view of oneof the seeding devices. Fig. .7 is a central, vertical section of thesame. Fig. 8 is an elevational edge view of the same. Fig. 9 is avertical, sectional view of the same, the section being taken on theline 9-9 of Figs. 6 and 7 Fig. 10 is a broken, elevational view of theseeding device, showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 11shows, in perspective, the feed-wheel or cylinder detached from the feedcup. Fig. 12 shows, in perspective, a detail of the follower. Fig. 13 isa perspective view of a disk or rfisette adapted to close the end of-thecasing pf the seeding device. Fig. His a perspective view of a. gate orvalve used in the seeding device. Fig. 15 is a crosssectional view of agrass seed attachment, which is adapted. to be removably secured to theframe of the machine, and is designed to be used when it is desired tosow grass seed and grain at. the same time. Fig. 16 shows, on anenlarged scale, in vertical section, the device for feeding grass seed,the section being taken on the line 2020 of Fig. 19), looking in thedirection indicated by the: arrows. Fig. 17 shows, in side elevation,

this; seed-feeding and scattering device detached from the seed box.Fig; 18 shows the feeding and scattering mechanism in edge elevation.Fig. 19 shows, in plan on an enlarged scale, a. device which isadaptedto:

spread the stream of grass seed so; that thisseed will bedistributedevenly over the ground. Fig. 20*

shows a plan View of the. forward portion of the machine and illustratesthe mechanism whereby the. machine is steered. Fig. 21 is a detail of a.portion of the steering mechanism. Figs. 22 and 23 are details ofportions of the machine, showing the mode of connecting the drag barsand the-feed-shoes to the front axle so as to maintain the shoes inproper position. Fig. 24 is an inverted plan view of a fraine'carrying aseries of seeding devices, this frame and its attached seeding devicesbeing removably secured to the frame of the machine so as to be readilydetached therefrom and lifted out, whereby it is possible to furnish themachine with seeding devices of different types. Fig. 25 shows, indetail, means whereby the various seed and fertilizer feeding mechanismsare driven. Fig. 26 shows,-in detail, the means for reversing thedirection of rotation of the shaft which extends through theseries ofgrain-feed devices, this reversal being effected for a purposehereinafter explained; and Fig. 27 is a detached detail of parts of themachine, illustrating the means whereby the mov ing parts of the machineare thrown into, or out of, action.

' In the several figures of the drawings, 1 indicates the frame of themachine.

2 is the main axle or shaft, having upon its ends the wheels 3 andcarrying also suitable means for drivin the various moving parts of themachine. V

The forward part of theframe is provided with downwardly extendingstandards 4, through which extends an axle 5, this axle beingstationary. At each end of the'axle 5, (see Fig. 20), is aswiveledextension 93 of the axle, each of the extensions carrying a wheel 6.Means are provided, and will be hereinafter described, whereby thesefront wheels may be swung in a horizontal plane to steer the machine.

Above the frame 1 of the machine, and carried thereby, are receptaclesor hoppers 7 and 8 adapted to contain grain, seed or fertilizer. .Eachof these receptacles is supported upon four legs, two of these legsbeing jointed so as that the receptacle may be tipped over when it isdesired to pour out the contents. The leg9 of the receptacle 7 is formedin one piece, while the leg 10 is formed with a hinged joint aboutmidway its length. A snap-bolt 11 is secured to the frame of the 3machine and adapted to catch over the foot of the leg 9 similarlyprovided with means, consisting'of a snap bolt 12, adapted to engage thefoot of the leg 13 when the: receptacle 8 is; in normal position, but tobe re- 3 leased when the receptaclefl is: to; be tipped back.

1 The jointed leg 14 is constructed substantially similar to the leg10'.

The receptacles 7 and 8 are formed of sheet metal,

preferably galvanized iron'or steel, bent to the form 1 of a, hollowcylinder-'15, 15",: an opening extending along one' side and adapted tobe closed by a curved cover 16. This cover is also formed of sheet metaland is hinged along one of its edges to one of the edges of the ,box 15.The ends of the boxes 15, 15, are closed by sheet metal disks 17, (Fig.3), the edges of the box 15 and the edge of the plate 17 being formed tooverlap and form a. tight joint in a familiar manner. A receptacle ofthis form may be easily, rapidly and cheaply produced and has theadvantage, in use, that water is .shed from the curved upper side. Ingrain drills, as heretofore constructed, the seed receptacles havegenerally been made of wood and provided with flat wood covers. Theobjection to such covers is that when the machine is left out-of-doorsand exposed to the weather, rain and sun affect thebover, warping it outof shape and causing it to less completely close the box against theadmission of water and the consequent mating and damaging -of the partsof the mechanism within the-receptacle, as well as the spoiling of anyseed which may be left in the .box.

The cover'16' is provided with a convenient'handle 18, whereby it -maybe readily turned back. Extending-thr'ough the seed box is a shaft 19,midway between the ends of which is a gear-wheel 20 secured to thisshaft.- This gear 20 is covered by a housing 21 which has bearings 22and23 for supporting the shaft. Other suitable bearings 24 are provided ateach end of the receptacle. The shaft 19 is provided with a. series ofpins 25. the working of the machine this shaft, and the pins carriedthereby, rotate and break up the mass of seed, grain or fertilizer,which is contained in the receptacle, before it passes out through ireplaced by a similar frame having arranged therealong made as a part ofthe receptacle which is to contain the I material to be fed, or havebeen secured to the receptacle so that when the receptacle is tippedback the series of feed-devices arranged along the bottom of thereceptacle have been carried therewith. In a machine constructedaccording to my invention a series of seed v or feed-devices is arrangedalong a removable frame, this-frame being adapted to be secured in placeto the frame of the machine, or to be detached there-' from with thewhole series of feed-devices, and to be a series-of feed-devices adaptedfor use with fertilizer.

There .are in common use several different forms of grain-feed devicesadapted to be used upona machine of this chaiacter. It is found thatsome farmers prefer one form of feed-device while others prefer adifferent I form and, for certain kinds of seed, one type may offeradvantages over-another. One of the objects of my invention is toprovide means whereby it ispossible, with a very small expenditure oftime and labor, to change from-one type of feed to another, either thatthe series of grain-devices maybe replaced by a series offertilizerfeell devices, or that one type of grain-feed orfertilizerfeed device may be substituted for another. To this end, Iarrange, as shown in Fig. 8, a series of seed-feed devices 27 along aframe 28. I also arrange on a suitable similar frame a series offeed-devices adapted to feed fertilizer. In Figs. 6 to 14, inclusive,are shown details of a single seed-feed device of a preferred form;

Referring particularly to these figures, 29 is an outer casing formed ofsheet metal, preferably galvanized iron or steel, and having a flaring,open top and a contracted, open bottom. The top is adapted to be closedby the bottom of the grain receptacle, when the latter is in nonnalposition, but, when this receptacle is tipped back, the top of thecasing '29 is open and free access is given to the interior of-the same.Revolving in the casing 29 is a feed-wheel 30 which may be stamped orpressed out of sheet metal. Between the wheel 30 and the back of thecasing'29 is a curved plate 31, this plate being hinged at its upperedge and pressed toward the feed-wheel 30 by a spring 32. The plate 31is formed with a. projection 31 which moves in a slot 32 in the side ofthe casing as the plate 31 is swung back. The forward end of this slotforms a stop to limit the forward movement of the plate. The stream ofseed falls upon the wheel 30 and, when the wheel is rotating in thedirection indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7, is carried through thepassage between the wheel 30 and the plate 31.

It is found in practice that stones or other foreign bodies sometimesfall into the feed'device with the grain and, unless means are providedwhereby these stones may pass through the device instead of becominglodged therein, some part of the mechanism will be broken. In the deviceherein shown, the passage of a stone through the device will merelyforce back the plate 31 against the forward'thrust of the spring 32, andthe stone will be permitted to go through the device without doing anydamage.

33 is a closing cylinder or follower provided with wings 34 and 35. Thiscylinder is placed with one of its ends abutting the end of the wheel 30and is inserted into the casing 29 through an opening in the sidethereof, this opening being formed with slots 36 and 37 extendingradially from the center of the opening. On the opposite side of thecasing 29 is a circular opening adapted to be closed by the disk orrosette 38.

This disk is provided with an opening 39 having the proper contour topermit the feed-cylinder 30 to slide back and forth through thisopening.The feed-wheels 30 and the closing cylinders 33 of the series offeed-de- I through which the seed or grain may pass is regulated, as iswell known in this art.

The disk as is held in place over its opening by three or more lugs 40which are riveted, or otherwise conveniently secured, to the side of thecasing. The lower portionofthe casing29ismade ofsu'chformastogive acontracted opening through which the seed passes on its way to thefurrow opening shoes, oidisks.

Hinged at the upper part of each casing or 'cup 29 is a gate 42 adaptedto swing toward or away from the feedwheel 30, whereby the openingbetween the lower edge a inoperative and itis n. tostop the mav in Fig.7. To overcome these difficulties I propose to plate 31, made to pasover the opposite side of hereafter described oi this gate and the thewheel 30 rel be a 'Itisioundinthe oidevicesofthischaracterthat .the '0:grain is fed will sometimes become-cloggedin the upper of the-casingoithe deed-device. When occu is" the' feed-devicehechine and break upthe'clogged seed. It is alsp found that when of seed-feeding deviceisusedwithlargeseed, suchaseertainvarieties of large beans, especiallyif the latter have been soaked and --swollen, as is often designedlydone, theselarge seeds are liable to be crushed between the points ofthe feedwheel '30 and the plate 31 if the feed-wheel is made to rotatein the usual direction, as indicated by the arrow rotate thewh'eel30 inthe opposite direction, when these conditions occur, so that the seed,of through the opening between the wheel 30 and the thewheel 30 and willfall through the es; between this wheel and the gate 42. Means areprovided whereby this. reversal of the direction of rotation may be Iquickly made by manuallybperated means, to be i ad oss'the machineis ashaft 43 (see Fig. 7) supported in bearings and having a handle lever 544 secured thereto at some convenient point. Extend- 3 ing upward fromthis shaft 43 is a series'of levers 45, each of these levers havingconnected to its upper end j a short spindle 46, which spindle extendsinto the casing 29 and is connected to the gate 42. By themovementofthehandlcflupordowmflieshaftfiisrotated I and the levers 45andspindles transmit this movement to all of the gatw 42, closing them orsimultaneously.

It sometimes becomes nto tlmowout of operalion a part of thefeed-devices. This will occur when it is desired to plant seed in rowsagreater distance apart than that provided for by the machine. In thiscase the slide 47, with which the feed-device casing is provided, willbe closed upon such feed-devices as it is desired to have inoperative.This slide 47 is provided with an opening 48 which is in alinement withthe opening 26 in the bottom of the seed receptacle when the slide 5 ispushed in, as shown in Fig. 7. By withdrawing the v slide 47 as iaraspossible, this opening 48 is closed by theend llloftheslide.

Ettendingllownward from the frame 1 of the machine j is a series offlexible ieedpipes 50, at the lower end of each of which my be provideda furrow-opening disk 51 of any approved ionn, or, if desired, some termof shoe sndh as is commonly used upon machines of this type M the upperend of each of the teed-pipes 50 i is a casing 52 having its upper endadaptedto fit into 5 die lower end of the feed-device casing 29, asclearly :shownimFig. 7. Withinthiscasing52 are two shafts. 153 and 54,respectively. Each of these shafts has se- 3 cured thereto a gate, 55and 56, respectively. The 53 and 54 are so geared together that when thegate 55 is in the horizontal position the gate 56 will be in thevertical position, and vice versa. It is sometimes desiredfto plant theseed in hills instead of continuous rows. When the gate 56 ishorizontal, the seed will opening them 1 e gm out the slides.

The upper portion of each of the casings 59 is adapted 125 all upon thesame and will be collected at this point.

sition,'whenall of the collected at pointwill I be dropped at the sametime into the feed-pipe 50. Whenit is desired to plantin contimwus rowsthe easings 52 will beremovedwiththe'shaftsffiandfianda longer feed-pipe50 will substituted for the one employed when the done inhills, thislong feed-pipe fitting into casing 29.

;=the' bottom. otthe feed-device Mounted upon a frame-consistingof angleirons 57 and 58, is a series of fertilizer-feed devices, each oithcsedevices having a casing 59 formed of sheet metal, pref 80.

erably galvanized iromor steel. The bottom of this casing 59 is formedby a shallow box 60 having. gearteeth 61 formed around its upper edge,these teeth being pointed upward. This box so is formed so'that itsupper edge overlaps an out-turned 62 on the 8d bottom of the casingSQ-andis adapted to upon said casing without beingdetached Within thecasing 59 and formed with the bottom 60, is a cap 63, this ieedmp anopening 64 through which, when the cap is rotated, the fertilizer isforced into the space below the cap. Below the casingotthe feed-deviceis a plate 65"upo n which the bottom 60 rests, and in contact with whichthe latter revolves. This plate is formed with an opening 66 throughwhich the fertilizer is forced as is well understood in this art.

The bottom 60 and cap 63 are preferably formed of a single piece ofsheet metal, such as galvanized ino'n, and may be cheaply and rapidlyformed by stamping processes. Means, sud], for example, as the boltfi'],

may be provided for holding the bottoxnand cap connected to the plate65, and centering the puts an tively to each other. v

Extending through the series of ferfilim-feed' es ings is a shaft 68,thisshafl; being driven by means here toms, and imparting relation tothe same. Wlflllll oath of the fertilizer-feed this shaft 68 is pro- 7vided with aseriesolpinsm, thefu'mtionoiwhich isto l10 up the fertilizerand prevent clogging of the same in the feed-device, and also to'causethe fertilizer to'be discharged in a finelydivided condition so that itwill be evenly distributed over the ground Revolving within thefertilizer box and immediately over the feed- 1 1'5 an opening 73through which the may pass when the slide is in. When it is desired touse 'only a portion of the fertilizer-iced devicea such of these as arenot to he used may be shutoff by drawing to be closed by the bottomofthe fertilizer box when the latter is in the position shown infig. l,but when this box is tipped over upon its hinges in the legs 14 thesecasings 59 are opened and access is given to the interior of all of thefertilizer-feed devices.

after desui-bed,'-and having lhermlonga series 105 5 of gear-wheels 69,these gear wheels meshing with the teeth 61 upon eadn oi the revolving.fatiliner-feed hot- In fertilizer-feed devices as commonly constructed,the cap 63 is revolved from a draft which extends horizontally below thefeed-device and which is provided with a gear-wheel fixed thereon, thisgear-wheel meshaswellasoflight weight."-'lheforwardend ofeach'of thebraces 89 is pivotally seemed to 9. lug 91 upon the bracket 90 by; abolt 92, the lug 91 of inverted Y-shape to receive the end of the brace89. When it is desired to remove the planting slioes,as,for instance,when the machine-is to be used for fertilizer only, the l brackets 90inay be readily detached from the front a v iug .with.the gear connectedwith the revol ving cap. The objection to su h a form of drive is thatthe fertiliz'er falling from the bottom of thefeed-dcvice becomes lodgedon the shaftand works its way into the gears, axle.lntheuseofgraindrillsitisoitenfoundthatthe planting is not'done instraight rows because oithe -'I5 difiiculty of guiding the horses in a,straight line. I propose to overcome this by so clogging these parts andinterfering with the operation LlgQof the machine. As herein shown, Ihave provided means whereby the inter-engaging gearing is not placedunder the feed-device, but located in such a position that no fertilizercan fallupon the same andinterfere with the proper. working of themachine. At the same time, it is pomible to provide the shaft Wllil'lhdrives this cause this shaft extends horizontally through the casing ofthe feed-device.

It is sometimes desired to'sow grass seed with grain;

'- The receptacle for containing this seed may be very and 15 which isconstructed substantially similar to the receptacles 7 and 8 and willnot be described in detail. This receptacle 74' is hung, by means ofhangers 75 and 76, from the bottom of the frame 1 and may be placed infront of the grain tubes 50, as shown in Fig. 1, or, ii desired, may belocated at thcrear of these tubes, as shown in dotted lines in thisfigure. Secured to the bottom of tliesreceptacle 74 is a casing 7.7containing a cylinder 78 having about one-half of its length formed soasto form misled-wheel 79, similar to that shown in Fig. 11. Thiscylinder 78 is pressed from a piece of sheet metal and has one of itsends cheer? :1: 80 audits opposite, or outer end, adapted to be Cir' SHiby a disk 81. The disk 81 is formed with a projecting portion 82provided with a pin 83 which secures this portion to the shaft 84'. Theshaft 84 extends through the series of cylinders 78 and is so mounted inits bearings as to have longitudinal, as well as rotary, move- .ment.When it is desired to close the grawfeed deposite end of this lever issecured to the shaft 84: The

bottom of each of the casings 77 is provided with a fan-shaped spreader'or scatterer 87, which may be premcd from a piece of sheet metal, uponwhich the seed, as it emerges from the opening '88 in the lower portionof the casing 77,'falls. The function of this spreader 87 is to causethe seed falling thereupon to be distributed over the ground instead ofdropping in a row.

Extending forward from each of the journals of the furrow-opening disks51 is a brace 89, the forward end of each of these braces beingconnected to a bracket 90, these brackets being to the forward axle 5.Each of these braces consists oi a strip of sheet metal bent into theform of an inverted V, with the lower edges curved inward, as shown indetail in Fig. 26. This form of brace is very strong and is cheaplymade,

the 'machine that it may be guided or steered independently oi themovement of the horses, so that if the horses, to avoid a stone orstump, or for any otherrea- 80 son, move out oi the direct line in whichthe machine is traveling,- the operator may, by the manipulation ofsuitable steering means, keeplthe machine moving in a straight line. Tothis end Iprovide-the axle ii with swiveled 9a e94, each of these cm assions' having upon its outer end a bearing for a-whee1' 6. Theextensions 93 and 94 are provided withlugs '95 and 96, respectivelyJ-gToeach of these lugs connected one end of a rod, 97 and 98, respectivelyThe opposite ends of fliqfl l g are-connectedto a cross-bar 99,the-latter being secured upon the lower end of a steering post 100.

tends upward and backward a point near'the seat 101 and is provided witha hand wheel 102, which may be grasped by the driven. When the wheelsare turned tosuch a position that the machine will not i move in astraight line, the turning of the steering post will cause theextensions 93 and 94 to swing on their pivots in an obvious manner.

in Fig. 25 is shown a diiferential gear-disk 103, this 100 disk beingprovided upon one of its sides with a plu- :"aiity of series of teetharranged concentrically around the center of rotation of the disk, eachof these series of teeth being at a different distance from the center.

Adapted to engage these teeth is a gear 103, this gear being so arrangedas to'be moved toward or away from the center of'the disk 103 and to bein mesh with any desired series of teeth upon said disk. By this meansthe speed of rotation of the gear 104 may be varied,

and the speed of rotation of the shaft 105 which carries this gear 104.is regulated. This shaft 105 extends upward and forward and has'mountedthereon, near it: forward end, shovel-gear 106, adapted to mesh with abevel-gear 107 mounted upon the shaft 41 which extends through theseries of grain-feeding devices. Also fixed on the shaft 41.is agear-wheel 20 Fig. 26,) meshingwith thegear20 ontheahaftlQwhichextendsthrough the seed box 7. (See Figs. 1 and 7).

Meshing with the bevel-gear 107 is a bevel-gear 108 mounted on aforwardly extending shaft 109, and upon i series'oi gears 69, meshingwith the teeth 61 arranged around the upper edge of the box 60 whichforms the bottom of the casing 59 of the fertilizer-feed mechanism.Meshing with the gear 111 is a gear 112, this gear being secured uponthe shaft 68 which revolves in the iertilizareceptacle 8. The gear 113,(see Fig. 26), is

similarto the gear 107 and meshes with the gear 1 06.Thegea1s107and113arelooselymounted upontheshaftflnnd,byreasonoftheirbeingin engaganent with the gear 106 upon opposite sidesof the center of the latta, evolve in opposite direction.

Mountedupontheshaftflisaclutchli iadaptedto have sliding movement in adirection lengthwise of .theshait fl, butsecuredsoasto rotatewiththisshaft.

Each ofthe gears 107- and 11s is provided with a notched hula-115 and116, respectively, adapted to engage suitable notches upon the clutch114. By throwing the clutch 114 into engagement with either one or thedther of the gears 107 or' 113, the shaft 41 to it, through the clutch1.14, movement I in one direction or the other, depending on which ofthese is connected through the clutch with the shaft. Means are providedfor inanually throwing the clutch 114 in either direction, which meansmay conveniently consist of a lever 116 pivoted intermediate its endsand having one of its ends connected with the clutch 114 and itsopposite end connected with a rod 117, this rod extending to apointconveniently accessible to the driver and having a handle upon its end.When it becomes necessary to reverse the direc-' tion of rotation of theseed feed'shaft to breakup clogged masses of seed, as hereinheioreexplained, this reversal may be very quickly accomplished, so that therewill not'be a space of any considerable width left Implanted during thein which the feedwheels are beingreveised. I

AgeaIJlSisammgedtO meshwith teeth upon the disk 103,1his gear beingmounted upon a shaft 119, which shaft extends forward and carries uponits forwardendabevel-goarlm. Thisgcarmmesheswithagearmwhidfisfixedupontheshaft53(seeFig.15).Mountedupmfl1eslmft54isageari22whichmesl1es; with thegear 12L Meshingwiththe teeth'on thedisk103 isamthergearm mounted uponashaitm whichextends forward and has upon its forward endagesrl25,thisgearmeshingwithagesr126. Thegearlflfiisfixeduponiheshaitfifieefiga 1., 15and 16), extending the seedfeed-devices.

Means are provided wherehythe gears 104., 118 and 123 may be movedtowszd or away item the center of the disk 103, whereby thfi p d ofrotation of these guns, and the finite and mechanism driven thereby, maybe regulated. Extending radially from the hearingmoithedisklmareihreehrackefs, 128, 129and 13o, respeefively. Thesebrackets are provided with M5 and engaging iihese teeth are pinions,131, 132

. and 133, lespedively, fi1ese pinions being carried by E membersbearings for the gears;

104, 118 and 123. itis desired to shift these gears along theirrespective shafts toward or away from the disk 103, these piniens may berotated by means of the handles 134., 135 and 136, respectively. By thismeans I am emhled to conveniently regulate the speed of the difierentmoving partsof the machine relaiive to each other.

The drivers seat 1 01 is moimted upon the frame in such a position thatthe main driving gear upon the main axle is before the driver andreadily accessible to him- All the regulating means are placed so as tobe within his reads without his leaving the seat.

A handle lever 137, (see Fig. 1), is secured to a suit- Also secured tothe shait138'isaseries oflevers 139,

each of these levers projecting forward and having connected thereto atits'extreme end a rod 140, thisrod extending downward and having sleevedthereon a spring 141'. The lower end of the rod 140 extends through anopening in-a bracket 142, this bracket being formed as a part of thefeed-shoe and adapted to receive upon its upper side the pressure of thespring 141. The lower end ofthe Ind 140 is provided with: rim: or otherconvenient means for preventing the withdrawal of'the rod 140, fromtheopening in the bracket 142. When the lever 137 is moved backward, ortoward the driver, the feed-shoes or disks are raised irom the groundagainst the tendency of the spring 111 to force these'shoes or disksinto the ground. Upon a iotward movement being given to the handle 137,these shoes are permitted to engage the ground and are pressed thereintpby the springs 14]. Also secured to theshaft 138 (see Figs. 1 and 27) isa downwardly ex tending lever 143 having secured to its lower end a.link 144, this link extending forward and being con- .nected at its endwith one end of bellwnk lever 145. The main driving disk 103 is looselymounted upon the main shaft 2 and is provided with a. hubadaptedtobeengagedbyadntchkfi, thisdutch being ieafiiered'or otherwisesecured upon the shaft so as to rutate'therewith, but permitted to movelongitudinally thereon. The hell-dank lever 145 is adapt-- ed to engagethe clutch 146 and, by its movement in one direction, to throw theclutch 146 into engagement with the hub of the driving disk 103 or, byits movement in the opposite direction, to disengage this dutchthereirom. The lever 13? may be provided with some convenient means forlockingthe same in position at any desired point in its swing ahoutitspivotal point. When-the lever 137 is moved forward to lower the iurrowopening shoes or disksinto the ground, the movement of this lever willbe transmitted through the lever 143, the'link 144 and the beliaank 145to 105 the clutch 146, thus throwing this clutch into engagemeat withthe driving disk 103 and flrereby coupling the movingparts ofthemsdaineto tihercflzsfingmain shaft 2. When the lever 137 is moved in theopposite direction and the planting shoes or are raised from the ground,the movement of the lavais.

through the lever 143,, the link 144 and the 145 to the clutch 146,causing fllelafflber to be thrown out of engagementwiththe M 163 anduncoupling the worldng parts of the machine immthe main shaft. Theutility and value of this part of my machine is apparent. It is found inpractice that where separate and distinct means are provided forcoupling the various moving parts rto the main daiving shaft and forraisingand lowering the pleading shoes or disks, the driver often forgetto s'diust tnese va rious parts, so that with machines'o'i 'the oldertypes seed would sometimes be distributed over the ground and wastedwhen the machine was being dfiven along the road, or. on the other,hand, the parts oi the machine might be placed out of operation whilethe planting means were permitted todragnlong thegz'oimd and be injuredthereby.

It is found that in difierent parts of the county, or in difie'rentcounh'ies, one form of seed-feed or Ientilizen 13'0 preferred, whileanqther "form is unknown, and it is also foimd that-one iogtnof suchfeed device is well adapted tothe of soil and methods of farming in onelocality, whileanotherform is bettm adapted for another locality. It is..one'of the valuable features of my machine that; the seed-feed devicesand fertilizer-feed deviw are arranged in series along removableframes,- these frames being adapted to be quickly and easily takenoutandreplaced by othm'immes fitted with feed devices of aior fertilizer-feeddevices. Thus, the machine might be supplied with one receptacle only,and in this case the machine would be driven over the ground once withfertilizer and again seed.

I claim:

L In a planting machine, the combination of a main frame, a receptaclesupported thereby, a frame .removably supported below said receptacleandzcarrying a series of feeding devices each communicating with s'aldreceptacle, and meausfor actuating saldfeedingdevices.

2. In a planting machine,-the combination of a main frame, a receptaclesupported above said frame and pro- -vided with a series of openingsthrough the bottom thereof, a frame removably to said last-named frameand carrying a series of feeding devices, -each of these feeding deviceshaving an open top. which is' adapted to be'closed-by the bottom of thereceptacle without being connected therewith.

3. In a plantingJmachine, the combination with a main frame, of areceptacle supportedthereby, a removable frame carrying a feeding deviceprovided with an open top,

said receptacle having an openingin the bottom thereof.

supported that it may be tipped away from the feeding devlcea 5. in'aplanting machine, the combination of a receptacle having a series offeed openings, said receptacle being. tiltably supported, a series offeed devices having open tops adapted to register with'said openingswhen'the receptacle is in its normal position, but unattached thereto, ashaft rotatahiy arranged in said receptacle, and a series ofpinscarriedby said shaft, said plus being arranged difierent type. So,also, it may sometimes be desired. 'to'remove the seed-feed devices andsubstitute there- ,ssr

to rotate pariiy within assent-at and partly within the feed device whenthe receptacle is in -its normal position": v 6. In a. planting machine,a receptacle having a sheet metalbottom, said receptacle extendingacrossthe machine,

andb'eing provided with a plurality of elongated discharge openingsstamped in said-bottom and extending trans- -versely'6f the length ofsaid receptacle, a shaft carrying plurality of pins, and means'forcausing said pins totravel within said-asunder and throughssid dischargeopenings, substantially as shown,

'7. In a planting machine, the combination of a main driving axle, aframe, a series of feed devices supported by said frame, a shaftextending through said series of feed devices, two gear wheels roommounted upon said shaft, means for transmitting movement from the mainaxle to said gear wheelie-said means causing said gear wheels to rotatein opposite directions, and a clutch longitudlnallymovable on the shaftand rotating therewith and adapted to be thrown into cut with either ofsaid gear wheels.

8. In a planting machine, a receptacle, means for feeding material fromsaid receptacle, a main axle, a diifereutiai gear disk loosely mountedupon said axle, power-transmittingmeans .between said disk and saidfeeding de-, vices, a clutch upon said axle, said clutch adapted torotate with said axle and to have movement longitudinally of said axle,and'mcans for moving said. clutch into and out of'connection with thedifferential gear disk.

, .9. 'lnlaplanting machine, the combination. of a main driving'laxle,power transmitting means loosely mounted upon said axle, a clutchadapted to establish communication between said axle and said powertransmitting means, a shaft, a series of levels secured to said shaft, aseries of planting devices, connecflons between each of said plantingdevicesand meet said levers, connection between said clutch and saidshaft, and a hand lever by which said shaft may be turned, wherebymovement of said shaft and hand lever w'lll simultaneously move theplanting devices and the clutch.

10. In a planting machine, the combination of a main frame, a series ofplantlng'devices supported thereby, draft means at the forward-end ofthe frame by which it may be drawn over the ground, a stationary axle, awheel at each end of said axle, said wheels being adapted to be swung ina horizontal plane, means for steering said wheels whereby the turningof the draft means may be compensated and the planting devices made totravel aubstantiaily in straight lines, connecting means rcmovahlysecured to said stationary axle, and a series of braces each hinginglysecured at one of its ends to said last-named means and secured at itsopposite end to one of the planting devices.

. 'rnsonoa'uuaa'ru.

Witnesses I G. Y. Samara,

C. L. Horsms.

